By BENSON EZUGWU

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially approved the composition of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged “Enugu 2026”.

Mr Daniel Onwuegbulam Director of Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Enugu State disclosed this on Monday in a statement in Enugu.

According to the statement, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu is the Chairman of the committee.

Onwuegbulam added that other members included seasoned professionals with extensive experience in sports administration, event management, and youth development.

They include Bamiduro Olumide, a sports management expert and former National Badminton champion, as Secretary General.

Mary Onyali, Former world-class athlete with extensive international sporting experience; Aku Akazu, a lawyer and sports management expert.

Others are Victor Okorie, elite athlete representative and member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, and Blessing Ekwe, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and FIFA-licensed agent.

Also, Davidson Owumi, current COO of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and former General Manager of Enugu Rangers Football Club were in the list.

Also on the committee are Tony Ugwu, Chairman, Enugu State Football Association and Henry Okorie – Executive Member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Nigerian Athletics Commission.

Others are Jonathan Nnaji, President of the Nigeria’s Modern Pentathlon Federation, Vice President of the Africa Modern Pentathlon Confederation and Executive Board Member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.

Boniface Onovo and Ephraim Ochonma, Directors of Organizing and Coaching respectively, represent the Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Obiora Obasi, Technical Assistant to the Commissioner, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports completes the list.

According to the director, the State Government expressed its full confidence in the ability of the committee to organize and deliver an outstanding National Sports Festival.

“Their leadership will play a crucial role in fostering athletic excellence, promoting national unity, and driving economic development through sports,” the statement said.

Onwuegbulam said that the commissioner had already expressed confidence in the ability of the committee to do a great job by organising a festival of international standard.

“This committee is made up of some of the most capable and experienced individuals in the sports industry.

“With their expertise and our government’s unwavering support, ‘Enugu 2026’ will be an extraordinary event that leaves a lasting legacy, ” Ekweremmadu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Sports Commission (NSC) last year awarded Enugu State the hosting right of the 2026 National Sports Festival. (NAN)